Microsoft may alternate its two biggest franchises

Halo is the Xbox's biggest franchise, while Gears of War is the Xbox 360's biggest so far; therefore, it's not hard to believe an EGM report suggesting that Microsoft plans to alternate releases in future years.

Although it's easy to convince eager fanboys that their dreams will come true and that they'll get a killer app for the Xbox 360 every year, I would like to cast some doubt on the report. EGM is a reliable source and I don't think the publication would go out of its way to mislead readers; still, I know Bungie.

I think it's fair to say that the next iteration of the Halo series will come out in 2007. Microsoft will need to seriously compete with Sony's PlayStation 3 in the Holiday 2007 season because there should be enough PS3 units available by then and the console war will turn mainly to software. I also don't see it as too much of a stretch for Epic to churn out a second Gears title by 2008 since the company has gone out of its way to stress that it would not stop at a trilogy if the game met with success.

By 2009, however, I think there are two main reasons that it's asking too much for Bungie to roll out another Halo title. First, the company is releasing games every three years: 2001, 2004, and 2007. Second, Bungie has shown its stubborn “We'll release it when it's done” side even to Daddy Microsoft. Bill Gates promised a new Halo in 2006, a statement the company was forced to step away from soon after consulting with Bungie.

So, while I'd really like to play Halo IV in 2009 and Halo V in 2011, I think it's more a case of Microsoft trying to keep its name in game magazines week after week when the magazines would otherwise be salivating over the PS3 or getting giddy about the Wii. Xbox gamers either have Gears or plan to purchase a 360 once Halo 3 comes out, so in the interim (read: now) Microsoft desperately needs to sell-sell-sell to reach its goal of 10 million units sold.

Will there be a Halo 4?(4:08pm EST Fri Dec 15 2006)Bungie, in the past, has put an axe to profitable and enjoyable series when they considered them played out (Marathon). They have everybody primed to finish off the Halo storyline with the next version if that is the case, Halo 4 would need to be a prequel (Fall of Reach or first contact with the Covenant, anybody?).

However, I think the Bungie folks might be thinking they'd rather move on to something else. Heck, I'd love to see an Xbox 360 version of Marathon. That would be sweet. The Covenant are great to kill, the Flood annoying, but nothing was as much fun to waste as the Phfor. – by technosavant

Microsoft needs nothing(8:27pm EST Fri Dec 15 2006)With Sony shooting itself in the foot left and right the success and growth of the xbox360 franchise is assured.

Sony totally bungled its launch, hardware selection and failed manufacturing execution. By being late they have given a larger portion of the American Market to MS. Will sony lose as a result, but they have forever given MS enough MS to make money and now to be a big enough player that Sony will NEVER again dominate like they did with PS2. As a result more developers will focus on games and thus MS will continue to have strenght in the US market. No need to talk about the Japanese market as they are the most biased little dicks on earth.

I got a 360 for high end and I'll be getting a WII for the fun stuff and I'll still have money left over to sink into lots of games all for the price of one PS3 that can't be had.

SONY blew it.. The guys there all should be fired for bungling this. Its like the INTEL execs that pushed netbust and Itanium giving AMD a foothold. – by lexington_steele

Awesome!!!(12:26am EST Sat Dec 16 2006)Each year I will have either a Halo or GOW title to look forward to….

And on the PS3…..

Sonic..

BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHH!!! – by baibbas

I'm with Techno…(11:00am EST Sat Dec 16 2006)Halo has been done. While I love it as a FPS (weapons, shield, vehicles), it's gotten pretty tired. Enough 10-12 year olds have mastered and dominated the online world to make it no fun.

It's not like the story is all that great (or has to be). Bring back Marathon, Bungie!!! WOOOOO!

Word.– by The_Real_Mark

Mark got it right..(11:46am EST Sat Dec 16 2006)All games after a while are BORING..

Hit the courts to for real hoops. Hit the slopes for some real snow boarding

Hit the trails for some real biking.

Today we somehow allow our kids to sit for hours on their asses and work their hands and fingers.

I see it all around, children growing up not knowing what real competition is what real socialization is…

– by lexington_steele

Real Compitition(8:17am EST Sun Dec 17 2006)Since when was B-Ball real competition?Let me restate that. Has B-Ball always been real competition?The definition of the IDEA called competition changes with the generations and sometimes technology, real competition does indeed exist on consoles and computers just as it does in a spelling bee or a writing competition. – by ironsmith

Wow more of the same(4:10pm EST Mon Dec 18 2006)I don't mind Halo or Gears of Ware, but what is sad to me is that the two franchise supporting titles are pratically the same. Shooters with multiplayer and big guns. I know American gamers are easy to please but gheez. I am American and I want more. Let try some new market M$. – by blcskate

re: blcskate(8:56am EST Tue Dec 19 2006)If you want to try something fresh and original, pick up Viva Pinata. Sure, it looks like a kids game but it has depth and a lasting appeal that you rarely find in games today.

If you can look past the “cute” graphics, this is a very enjoyable and addictive game. – by Jeremy